Following days of deliberations between the Congress and JD(S), Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy finally held his cabinet expansion today.

Within a fortnight of forming the government in the state, Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy is ready for his first cabinet expansion today

Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy held his first cabinet expansion on Wednesday, a fortnight after he was sworn in as chief minister. Kumaraswamy inducted 25 ministers in his team. While14 ministers are from the Congress, 9 from its ruling coalition partner JD(S) and one each from the BSP and the KPJP.

These names are almost certain. Out of quota of 22 cabinet birth (including DyCM) the Congres is thinking to fill 15 or 16 births in today's expansion: Sources

08:00 am: PTI reported that Congress chief Rahul Gandhi held long deliberations with former chief minister Siddharamaiah, deputy chief minister G Parameswara and senior party leaders DK Shivakumar and Dinesh Gundu Rao, along with AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka affairs KC Venugopal before finalising the list of new ministers from his party. Though there was no official word from the Congress, Gandhi is learnt to have given his nod to the list of around 12 ministers which includes Shivakumar who is likely to get an important portfolio. Gandhi met the Karnataka leaders for over an hour and gave final shape to the list of ministers, while according equitable representation to all sections and regions.

07:50 am: Sources said some portfolios may remain vacant on both sides to douse any discord in the two parties.

07:30 am: The lone BSP legislator in Karnataka, N Mahesh, will be a part of the cabinet expansion and will be given a key portfolio. JD(S) secretary general Danish Ali told PTI, "We will give due importance to our pre-poll ally, the BSP by giving its lone MLA a ministerial berth." He also disclosed that BSP supremo Mayawati has deputed its senior leader Satish Chandra Misra to attend the cabinet expansion function tomorrow. This is the first time that the BSP will be a part of the government outside of Uttar Pradesh. Danish Ali was the key pointsman in negotiating an alliance with both the BSP and then the Congress.